Unscrambler and erector for articles such as plastic bottles



g- 4, 1964 c. WYLE ETAL 3,143,201

UNSCRAMBLER AND ERECTOR FOR ARTICLES SUCH AS PLASTIC BOTTLES Original Filed April 7, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. l

INVENTORS.

CHARLES WYLE FORREST W. HYDE SVEN WILDHEIM A'ITORNEYS Aug. 4, 1964 c. WYLE ETAL UNSCRAMBLER AND EREC'I'OR FOR ARTICLES SUCH AS PLASTIC BOTTLES Original Filed April 7 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. WYLE ETAL,

Aug. 4, 1964 3,143,201

UNSCRAMBLER AND ERECTOR FOR ARTICLES 1 SUCH AS PLASTIC BOTTLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 7, 1961 FIG. 3

United States Patent 3,143,261 UNSCRAMBLER AND ERECT'GR FOR ARTICLES SUCH AS PLASTIC BGTTLES Charles Wyle, a looinfield, Forrest W. Hyde, Avon, and Sven Wildheim, Hartford, Conn, assignors to Ernhart Manufacturing C'ompany, Hartford, Conn, 21 corporation of Delaware Original application Apr. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 101,451, new Patent No. 3,101,332, dated Aug. 27, 1963. Divided and this application July 30, 1962, Ser. No. 213,435

3 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) This invention relates to an apparatus for unscrambling and orienting articles which are in a random group and for then erecting them, bottom end down, for single file transportation, and this application is a division of application Serial No. 101,451, filed April 7, 1961, now U.S. Patent No. 3,101,832, issued August 27, 1963.

The invention has particular application to the handling of reltaively lightweight articles which, in a production operation, must be oriented and erected at a high rate of speed. For example, apparatus provided in keeping with the present invention may be used to great advantage in unscrambling empty plastic bottles and erecting them on a conveyor which transports them to a machine for filling and capping. For purposes of illustration, the invention will be described as incorporated in apparatus adapted for this particular purpose, but it should be understood that the invention is applicable to the construction of apparatus for handling articles other than plastic bottles.

As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, apparatus provided in accordance with the present invention includes a bowl into which the empty plastic bottles are dumped in random order. The bowl is provided with a spiral track starting from the bottom thereof and up which the bottles climb when the bowl is vibrated. This spiral track is at the periphery of the bowl and means are provided to engage the bottles moving therealong to assure that they will advance on the track in end to end relationship, bottom end first.

When the bottles reach the end of the spiral track, they enter the open top end of a chute which permits them to fall and which directs their fall onto a resilient platform which is supported adjacent the open bottom end of the chute. This platform, of course, receives the falling bottles bottom end down and it serves to dampen and control the bounce of each such bottle. The purpose of this control is to provide assurance that the bottles can be engaged and caught by means that will hold them in an erect position and transport them away from the bottom end of the chute. The means for catching the bottles preferably comprises a pair of endless belts which are arranged substantially parallel to each other to turn on substantially vertical axes. The bounced bottles are caught between the moving belts and are carried thereby in single file erect order and then deposited thereby on a conveyor which continues to move the erect bottles away in single file.

From the foregoing general description, it will be rather apparent that it is the general object of the invention to provide an automatically operable apparatus capable of unscrambling or orienting articles in a random group and then erecting them on a conveyor or the like so that the articles can be moved along at the relatively high speed necessary for mass production operation.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming Edd-$2M Patented Aug. 4, 1954 a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the aforedescribed apparatus provided in accordance with the present invention and particularly adapted to unscramble and erect plastic bottles;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the interconnected vibratory bowl, chute, and conveyor shown in FIG. 1, with parts thereof shown in horizontal section to reveal details of construction; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical view, partly in section, of the chute through which the bottles fall and the associated resilient platform which dampens their bounce;

Referring now to FIG. 1 in greater detail, it is to be observed that the elements of the apparatus provided in accordance with the present invention are combined in a relatively compact unitary structure. This structure includes a cabinet-like base 14 which supports the vibratory bowl 12 into which the bottles B, B or other articles are to be dumped for unscrambling. The electric motor and other means employed to vibrate the bowl 12 are located within the cabinet-like base 10, and since these devices are well known and do not contribute to the present invention, they have not been shown.

The cabinet-like base 14 also supports a feed hopper 14 into which a supply of the bottles or other articles can be dumped for feeding into the bowl 12. It will be noted that the hopper 14 is provided with an opening and a feed trough 16 which feeds the bottles B, B into the center portion of the bowl 12. A gate 13 is provided at the hopper feed opening and this or other means can be either manually or automatically controlled to control the rate of feed of the bottles from the hopper to the bowl.

The base 16 also supports a first discriminator unit indicated generally at 29 and a second discriminator unit 22 adjacent the bowl 12. The said discriminator units are preferably located in diametrically opposed positions with respect to the vibratory bowl.

The chute 24 which receives the bottles bottom end first from the bowl 12 is also supported by the cabinetlike base 14! and so is the mechanism which is indicated generally at as and which catches the erect bottles at the end of the chute and transports them therefrom. This last mentioned mechanism is supported forwardly of the base 16 on bracket means 28 secured thereto.

Turning now to a more specific description of the bowl 12, and with reference to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the said bowl is open at the top and has a thin side wall and that the spiral track 3% formed therein to extend upwardly from the bottom thereof is disposed adjacent the said side wall. Further, the said track rises to the top of the bowl 12 in convolutions of increasing diameter. As shown, the said track completes two convolutions from its starting point 32 at the bottom of the bowl to its end 34 at the top of the bowl. When the bowl 12 is vibrated in accordance with known techniques and at a selected frequency, the random group of bottles B, B in the bottom of the bowl become oriented and start to climb the track 3% in end to end relationship. As the bottles creep or climb along the track upwardly, they engage the peripheral or side wall of the helically shaped bowl 12. The bottles are caused to engage the said side wall because the track 36, as viewed in crosssection (see FIGS. 6 and 7), is sloped downwardly and outwardly toward the side wall.

The cross-sectional width of the track is suflicient to accommodate the Width or diameter of the plastic bottles B, B at their widest part with room to spare. Therefore, it is possible that initially there may be more than a single file of bottles climbing the track. That is, there may be one or more bottles clhnbing the track in side-by-side re lationship with other bottles proceeding therealong in single file, end to end relationship. Since it is desirable to have the bottles proceed in single file order and in end to end relationship, means are employed in the path of movement of the bottles to assure that only those bottles proceeding in single file order will pass.

Such means comprises a plate 36 which is supported by the side wall of the bowl 12 in a generally horizontal plane to extend over the track 30 in one location thereof. The plate 36 is spaced above the floor of the track 30 so that bottles can pass therebelow only if they are resting on their sides. It will be observed that the plate 36 has a tapered edge 38 which is disposed so as to direct any bottles that may be standing on either end inwardly of the bowl and off the track so that such bottles will tumble therefrom and be returned to the bottom of the bowl. A spring 40 is located below the plate 36 and projects into the path of movement of the bottles so as to engage each one moving along the track. This spring 40 thrusts the advancing bottles toward the inner edge of the track but does not push them thereover, if they are progressing in single file order. If any additional bottle is advancing therewith in side-by-side relationship, it is pushed inwardly and otf the track to return to the bottom of the bowl. The plate 36 and spring 40 are preferably located in the bowl and over the track 30 so as to be operable on bottles proceeding along the track after the track has turned through nearly one complete convolution.

The bottles passing the said plate and spring are next acted upon by the first discriminator unit which is located along the track approximately one and one-quarter convolutions from the starting point thereof. The elements of the said first discriminator unit are disposed within a housing 42 and include a pair of light-beaming lamps 44 and 46 which are supported over the track 39 in spaced apart relationship on arms 48 and 50, respec tively. The arms 48 and 59 are adjustably connected on posts 52 and-54 for pivotal adjustment over the track 30, and the said support posts are preferably mounted on adjustable means indicated generally by the reference numeral 56 which provides for adjustment of the posts and the lamps carried on the arms radially outwardly and inwardly of the track and therealong.

The first discriminator unit 20 also includes an apertured shield 58 which replaces a section of the floor of the track at the first discriminator station. One aperture (not shown) in the shield 58 is associated with the light-beaming lamp 44 so that the beam therefrom will be projected through the said opening onto a light sensitive device such as a photocell unit. Another aperture in the shield 58 is associated with the light-beaming lamp 46 so that its beam will be projected therethrough to a similar light sensitive unit.

The details of construction of the light-beaming lamps and light sensitive devices are well known and form no part of the present invention. It is also well known that such devices in combination can be used in actuate various other devices. For example, in the present arrangement, the light sensitive devices are connected in electrical circuit to a relay which when energized opens a solenoid operated valve to air nozzle means.

More specifically, an air line or conduit 66 (FIG. 2) is connected with the aforesaid solenoid operated valve (not shown) and to a nozzle 63 located below an opening in the shield 53 and directed upwardly therethrough. A second air line 78 is also connected to the solenoid operated valve and to a nozzle 72 which is supported over the track 343 at the first discriminator station. The adjustable nozzles 68 and 72 are located so that a puff of air from the nozzle 68 directed against a bottle B which is proceeding along the track 30, top end first, will thrust the said bottle upwardly and forwardly. As the bottle is thrust upwardly it enters the air stream profl duced by the nozzle 72 which continues to turn the said bottle. Thus, it can be said that the discriminator unit includes means capable of directing force against the bottle on the track to flip it or turn it end for end if it is not proceeding in the desired endwise orientation. An upstanding skirt or shield 73 is provided at the inner periphery of the track 39 adjacent the discriminator unit 20 to prevent flipped bottles from falling into the bowl 12.

The light-beaming lamps 44 and 46, the light shield apertures, and the two light sensitive devices are arranged at the discriminator unit 24 so that they will cause the aforedescribed air blast flow only if a bottle is detected passing the discriminator unit top end first which is the improper endwise orientation.

Obviously, it is desirable to move the bottles one at a time through the first discriminator station and in spaced relationship to the following bottle. It has been found that this can be accomplished by mounting an air line 74 and nozzle 76 over the track 3% in advance of the first discriminator station. Air is continuously directed through the adjustably supported nozzle 76 onto the bottles passing therebelow so as to thrust the leading bottle ahead of the other bottles and in spaced relationship thereto through the first discriminator station.

After passing the first discriminator unit 20, the bottles traverse approximately of the spiral track to the second discriminator unit 22. However, before reaching the second discriminating unit the bottles pass below a plate 7 8 which in all respects is like the previously mentioned plate 36 and which is utilized to thrust any bottles from the track which are not advancing endwise. That is, it is possible that a bottle will not be flipped as desired at the first discriminator station and such bottle might conceivably stand erect and advance along the track. The plate 78 will eliminate such bottles from the path of movement.

The second discriminator unit 22 comprises the same elements found at the first discriminator unit and the description thereof will not be repeated. In addition, a continuously operating air nozzle is located in advance of the second discriminator unit to move the bottles one at a time therethrough. The only difierence to be found in the second discriminator unit when compared with the first is that a different nozzle arrangement is provided. That is, at the second discriminator unit only a single nozzle 81) is employed for operation in the event a bottle advances thereto top end first. The nozzle 8% is located in an appropriate aperture in the side wall of the track to direct the air stream across the track and inwardly thereof as shown so that it will engage and thrust the improperly oriented bottle inwardly and off the track toward the bottom of the bowl.

Thus, the bottles proceeding along the track from the second discriminator unit 22 will be advancing in single file order and in end to end relationship, bottom end first. The bottles can pass rapidly along the track of the vibratory bowl and through the discriminator units because they can be erected and taken away by the further apparatus of this invention as rapidly as they approach the erecting chute 24. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the said chute is of generally rectangular cross section and open at both ends. It is supported on the base 10 and bracket 28 independently of the vibratory bowl 12, and it is not vibrated therewith. The open upper end of the chute 24 communicates with the top end 34 of the track 30 and it slopes downwardly and outwardly therefrom. As shown in FIG. 3, the chute has an attaching plate 82 for adjustably securing it to an L-shaped frame member 84 supported on the bracket 28 as by bolts 86, 86. Thus, the angular disposition of the chute can be adjusted within limits as desired.

While the bottles B, B can fall freely through the chute 24, it is desirable to speed up the operation by forcing them through the chute at an accelerated rate. This is accomplished by providing an air line 88 provided with 3 a nozzle 9! adjacent the top end of the chute, the nozzle being directed downwardly to accelerate the fall of the bottles through the chute. Preferably, a continuous air stream is passed through the said nozzle.

A resilient platform indicated generally at 92 is located adjacent the open bottom end of the chute 24 to receive the bottles falling therethrough bottom end first. The preferred platform comprises a plate 4 having a pad 96 thereon which is engaged by the falling bottles and which is preferably made of cork or other resilient durable material. The plate has a depending skirt for pivotally mounting the same on a pin 93 which extends horizontally from the bottom end of an adjustable support arm 1135 Thus, when a bottle strikes the pad 96 as shown in FIG. 3, the plate 94 is permitted to pivot clockwise a limited distance so as to dampen and control the bounce of the bottle therefrom.

The means limiting the clockwise pivoting movement of the plate 94 comprises a vertically adjustable stop 192, which is threaded in a forwardly projecting portion N4 of a flange at the bottom end of the arm 1%. An additional adjustable stop 1% is threaded into the rearwardly extending portion 168 of the said flange to engage the rearward portion of the plate 94 and limit the counterclockwise pivoting or swinging movement of the said plate. Further adjustment is provided by means of a counterweight fit) which is adjustably secured to the plate 94 so that it can be moved forwardly and rearwardly to balance it in a desired attitude. The arm 1% is adjustably supported in a bracket 112 which itself is adjustably mounted for movement forwardly and rearwardly on the frame member 84.

As will be apparent from PEG. 3, the adjustable mounting for the resilient platform 92 is of relatively great magnitude. This is important to provide control of the bounce of the bottle as desired so that it can be caught while in an erect position and then removed from the vicinity of the chute and the bounce dampening platform. As seen in FIG. 3, the relative arrangement of the chute 24 and the platform 92 is such as to provide for a bottle falling through the chute to strike the pad 96 with the rear portion of its bottom edge. Then the bottle will bounce forwardly and upwardly as controlled by the arrangement of the platform to approximately the dotted line position shown.

The bottle catching and conveying mechanism 26 includes a pair of endless belts 114 114 which are arranged substantially parallel to each other to turn on vertical axes. More specifically, the belts 114, 114 are made of sponge rubber or other comparably soft and resilient material and they are arranged so that they will turn about axes over the platform 92 so that a bounced bottle can be caught between the adjacent substantially parallel portions of the said belts. The belts are driven by a chain drive 116 connected to an electric motor 118 supported at the side of the bracket 28 (FIG. 2), and the belt supporting shafts, etc. are arranged for relative adjustment. That is, the belts are supported so that the spacing between them can be varied by turning handles 12%, 120 attached to lead screws, and the effective length of the belts can be adjusted by turning take-up screws or shafts 122, 122.

Preferably, while the adjacent flights of the belts 114, 114 are substantially or generally parallel, they nonetheless diverge slightly in the forward direction. Thus, as the bottles are carried forwardly away from the chute and platform between the belts and as the distance between the belts increases, the erect bottles are permitted to slip downwardly, bottom end first, as shown in FIG. 3. The bottles continue to slip downwardly until they rest upon an endless conveyor belt 124 disposed between and below the two catching belts 114, 114.

As a result, the bottles are erected and then carried in single file order and sequence and deposited in such order and sequence on the belt 124 for transportation to a bottle filling machine or the like.

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for orienting intermingled articles, such as bottles, and then erecting them bottom end down on a conveyor or the like, the said apparatus comprising a bowl having a spiral track therein leading from its bottom for the articles to climb in end to end relationship as a result of bowl vibration, means controlled by the endwise orientation of the articles and operable thereon to assure their advance bottom end first at the end of the track, a chute having an open upper end communicating with the end of the track and an open bottom end facing generally downwardly whereby the articles reaching the bottom end of the chute fall bottom end down, a resilient platform supported below the chute to control the bounce of the falling articles, and means comprising a pair of driven endless belts arranged generally parallel to each other and turning on substantially vertical axes to catch the bounced articles therebetween and to transport them in erect single file order.

2. Apparatus for orienting intermingled articles, such as bottles, and then erecting them bottom end down on a conveyor or the like, the said apparatus comprising a bowl having a spiral track therein leading from its bottom to climb in end to end relationship as a result of bowl vibration, means controlled by the endwise orientation of the articles and operable thereon to assure their advance bottom end first at the end of the track, an inclined chute having an open upper end communicating with the end of the track and an open bottom end facing generally downwardly whereby the articles reaching the bottom end of the chute fall bottom end down, means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the chute, a platform pivotally supported below the chute and having a resilient pad thereon engageable by the falling articles, the pivoted platform and resilient pad being arranged to dampen and to control the bounce of the falling articles, means for limiting the pivoting movement of the platform, means for adjustably positioning said platform relative to said chute, means comprising a pair of driven endless belts arranged generally parallel to each other and turning on substantially vertical axes to catch the bounced articles therebetween, said generally parallel belts being arranged to diverge slightly in a direction away from the platform and the chute, and a conveyor moving horizontally between and below said endless belts to receive the articles thereon bottom end down and to transport them in erect single file order.

3. Apparatus for orienting intermingled articles, such as bottles, and then erecting them bottom end down on a conveyor or the like, the said apparatus comprising a bowl for receiving the intermingled articles and having means for discharging them at a discharge point in endto-end relationship and with their bottom ends first, a chute having an open upper end communicating with the said discharge point and having an open bottom end facing generally downwardly whereby the articles reaching the bottom end of the chute fall bottom end down, a resilient platform supported below the chute to control the bounce of the falling articles, and means comprising a pair of driven endless belts arranged generally parallel to each other and turning on substantially vertical axes to catch the bounced articles therebetween and to transport them in erect single file order.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 19 Danberg Aug. 8, 1922 63 Soubier Nov. 14, 1922 ,680 Lorenz Ian. 31, 1928 00 Seabrooke Oct. 9, 1956 5 Dubin Nov. 27, 1956 

1. APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING INTERMINGLED ARTICLES, SUCH AS BOTTLES, AND THEN ERECTING THEM BOTTOM END DOWN ON A CONVEYOR OR THE LIKE, THE SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A BOWL HAVING A SPIRAL TRACK THEREIN LEADING FROM ITS BOTTOM FOR THE ARTICLES TO CLIMB IN END TO END RELATIONSHIP AS A RESULT OF BOWL VIBRATION, MEANS CONTROLLED BY THE ENDWISE ORIENTATION OF THE ARTICLES AND OPERABLE THEREON TO ASSURE THEIR ADVANCE BOTTOM END FIRST AT THE END OF THE TRACK, A CHUTE HAVING AN OPEN UPPER END COMMUNICATING WITH THE END OF THE TRACK AND AN OPEN BOTTOM END FACING GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY WHEREBY THE ARTICLES REACHING THE BOTTOM END OF THE CHUTE FALL BOTTOM END DOWN, A RESILIENT PLATFORM SUPPORTED BELOW THE CHUTE TO CONTROL 